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Global increase in direct investments made by Austrian companies

In addition to CEE/SEE countries, growth in Austrian direct investments was also seen in Germany, Russia and Turkey.

Research by Austria’s central bank, Oesterreichische Nationalbank , shows a significant increase in the value of global direct investments made by Austrian investors. Austria first became a clear net investor in terms of direct investments in 2010 and has been building up this position ever since. Statistics show that at the start of 2011 1,334 Austrian investors (+7%) held stakes in 4,735 foreign companies (+6%), representing a value of EUR 132.5 billion. At the same time the number of employees working for foreign companies grew by 3% (to 718,000).

Since 1989 Austria has been able to establish itself as an important investor in Central, Eastern and South-Eastern Europe. For around a decade now Austrian investors have been pursuing a well-balanced strategy which has also led them to invest in other regions. The current increase in direct investments was at its most noticeable in the figures for Germany, Russia and Turkey. In addition to this, Austrian investors now employ 18,000 workers in Chinese factories.

On the flip side, a total of 2,996 foreigners had invested in 2,561 Austrian companies when the data was gathered. These passive direct investments are worth around EUR 118.5 billion. Germany dominates the list of top investors in Austria, followed by Switzerland, Italy, the Netherlands and the USA.